Splinter Cell Veteran Clint Hocking Departing Ubisoft in the Middle of Leading Assassin's Creed Hexe Development

IGN

by Tom Phillips

February 25, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Ubisoft has announced that veteran creative director Clint Hocking is leaving the company while in the middle of leading development on *Assassin's Creed Hexe*, the upcoming entry in the franchise with a witchcraft theme. The news came as part of broader leadership changes for the *Assassin's Creed* brand, which now includes a new trio of executives overseeing its future. Hocking’s role will be taken over by Jean Guesdon, the series’ new Head of Content, who has extensive experience working on multiple titles in the franchise. The company confirmed that development on *Hexe* continues with a strong team and expressed gratitude for Hocking’s contributions while looking forward to sharing more details about the game. Hocking, known for his work on iconic games like *Splinter Cell*, *Far Cry 2*, and *Watch Dogs: Legion*, joined Ubisoft in 2002. After spending years away at companies like LucasArts, Valve, and Amazon, he returned to Ubisoft to work on *Assassin's Creed Hexe*. His exit comes after the recent departure of Marc-Alexis Côté, the previous head of the *Assassin's Creed* brand, who left in October 2022. This latest change highlights a period of significant restructuring at Ubisoft, with Martin Schelling now leading the *Assassin's Creed* team as its new creative leader. Schelling has a strong background in the franchise, having held senior roles on titles like *Black Flag*, *Origins*, and *Valhalla*. He is supported by Jean Guesdon, who has been part of the series since 2007, and François de Billy, who brings expertise in production excellence. The leadership changes at Ubisoft underscore its commitment to reshaping the *Assassin's Creed* brand. With multiple projects in development, including *Hexe*, *Invictus* (a multiplayer spin-off), and an anticipated remake of *Black Flag*, the franchise is poised for a fresh direction. While fans had assumed that the lack of updates on *Hexe* was due to Ubisoft focusing on promoting last year’s release, *Assassin's Creed: Mirage*, there are no signs suggesting delays in its progress. The departure of Hocking and the arrival of new leadership may shift the creative vision for *Hexe*, but Ubisoft remains confident in delivering a unique experience within the series. This news is significant for gaming fans as it reflects the

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Originally published on IGN on 2/25/2026